Disclaimer – I do not own Teen Titans, Eragon, BloodRayne, Deltora Quest, Soul Reaver, Dark Stalkers, The Legend of Dragoon, or any of the other things that I took little tidbits from.

Hi people! I hope you enjoy this chapter of "The Phoenix and the Black Bird II: Veil of Darkness." I'm actually getting a grade for writing this! Can you believe it? Of course you can! If I wasn't I would have never finished this story cuz I'm so lazy. Your reviews also help A LOT! So please read, review, and enjoy the story.

P.S. Just a note to everyone. I'm going to be updating slower but I'm going to try to make things more descriptive…Which means fight scenes may get a little graphic. Please don't be offended. I have been reading Ann Rice and am just now really realizing how HORRIBLE my stories are. Expect some big words and some really descriptive details.

Chapter 3 : Darkness Illusion

The Tower

Cri stopped in mid flight, beating her powerful wings in the air trying to hover. She pulled into a shallow dive, heading for an alleyway. It took a few seconds for Raven and Nightingale to notice she was missing. "Mommy" Nightingale asked in a timid voice. Raven's eyes widened. Nightingale's voice…It reminded her so much of Morrigan's. Her voice was a lot like Cri's but higher. It seemed to show much more emotion and maybe a hint of unintentional seductiveness.

Nightingale dived after her dhampiric mother. Raven followed close behind, the wind blowing her hood off. Night half landed, half crashed in the alleyway she saw her mother disappear in, Raven right behind her. The sight that met their eyes was puzzling indeed. Cri was cradling the head of a young teenaged boy whispering words of comfort at him. The boy was sweating and seemed to be in great pain. Raven knew that Cri was surprisingly compassionate, even more so considering not only what she was, but that compassion didn't seem to run in her family.

Raven approached her and knelt down near the boy. His body was giving off a dark aura, and he looked as if he were having a seizure. His eyes were rolled back in his head and his breath was coming in short gasps through his foam flecked lips. His entire body was shaking violently, his muscles twitching. Cri ran her hands through his hair and over his cheeks trying to calm him. She was now humming a sweet tune, but her eyes. Even if Cri could hide her emotions from Raven's empathy, Cri's eyes held a fear she had never seen before in any mortal being.

"He has been infected by the veil's mutative waste." Cri said without looking up. "It must have been spilled into the water or something." Raven looked at her curiously. "What is the veil, Cri? You're keeping something from me." Cri nodded glumly. "I was actually planning on coming back after the peace treaty was completely confirmed, but a fortnight before the meeting; I got a call from Brimstone. They told me about the veil and how it was infecting humans. I couldn't wait any longer because I didn't know how time differed between worlds." Raven nodded. "But what does this…Sickness do" Cri looked down at the boy who was starting to go pale. "It mimics corrupted vampirism."

The War

Taylor stared at Cri, numb with shock. "Is my brother…Really alive" Cri nods. "If he really is your brother, that is. I think we should take a visit to the vampire base camp and pay him a visit. I'm sure he would love to see you." The boy gulped and went a few shades paler. Was she serious? The vampire base camp? He would be torn to pieces as soon as he set foot in the door. Taylor opened his mouth to speak, but Cri cut him off with a wave of her hand. "As long as you stick close to me you will be fine. They will probably think you're a tribute or my pet or something." The boy glared at her. "Suuure, I'm you're pet. Would you like me to do a trick"

Taylor nearly slapped himself. Being sarcastic with a vampire who could kill him at any time was really smart. He closed his eyes, cringing away from the pain he was about to feel. He cracked his eyes when he heard laughing. Cri was laughing at him. "You remind me of one of my best friends! She saved my life once you know." The boy nodded sick with relief. "C'mon, let's pack up and go."

………………………………………………………

Cri and Taylor approached the vampire base. He stared up at its stone walls and shivered. This was La Rosa Rossa, or The Red Rose. It was the ultimate defensive complex. It's walls were 3 feet thick and solid concrete, and much too high to scale. The ledges on the walls gave archers the ability to target the enemy easily. This was all that was known about the base. No human has ever made it out of there alive.

Cri pulled out a radio and said something in a weird language. The reply also came in the language. 'It must be vampire old tongue.' Taylor thought to himself. The huge iron gates opened as they approached and Cri led the boy inside the base. He just had enough time to look behind him and see the gates close and lock before he was faced with a mob of vampires.

The Tower

Cri looked back down at the boy, tears stinging the corners of her eyes. "Why did this happen to one so young? This disease will kill him if the police don't first." She looked back down at the boy. He was shaking more violently now and he had started making choking sounds.

Cri ran her hands down his cheeks again. She noticed a chain he had around his neck, the charm tucked under his shirt. She picked it up; she knew what the charm was before she even saw it. A tiny silver cross was what she held in her palm. Small tendrils of steam rose from where it touched but she didn't seem to notice. She couldn't keep her tears back this time, and she didn't try. The tears landed on the cross and the boy, not bloody like other vampire's.

Raven hesitantly put her hand up and put it on Cri's shoulder. Cri looked up at her. She knew the empath couldn't express emotions for fear of hurting someone but Cri saw a deep sadness in her eyes. She nodded at Raven, acknowledging that she understood her pain. It wasn't easy to see someone suffer like this, even if you have been an assassin part of your life and are used to death.

Cri sighed and looked back down at the boy. He had stopped shaking and was coughing softly. He groaned softly and rolled over onto his chest seemingly trying to get up. The cross was tugged from her hand by the chain. Color was actually returning to his cheeks and he opened his eyes a little. Cri watched this completely puzzled. "He's…actually ok…but…humans can't overcome this disease on their own…How..." Her voice trailed off.

Cri looked back down at the boy who had managed to climb to his knees. "Maybe God just wanted him to live." Raven raised one eyebrow. "Since when did you become religious Cri" The dhampir smiled at the half demon. "Ever since I have been to 'the war from hell' and back." She sighed solemnly. "I just wish I could hold a cross in my hand without it hurting me." She looked down at her hand and gasped. Raven whipped around and looked at her hand. There wasn't a scratch on it. "I don't understand…" Cri muttered to herself. "I know it burned me." Raven thought for a moment. "Well…You are a phoenix…and phoenix tears heal."

Cri stared at Raven blankly. She looked back at the boy; his face was covered in little glistening spots where her tears fell on his face. 'That must have been what healed him,' she thought. She gestured to Nightingale who helped the boy shakily to his feet. It didn't last long though. The boy fell at Cri's feet thanking her and kissing her shoes. She literally had to hop on one foot and peel him off to be able to walk again. "Please miss" he begged, crawling closer so he was kneeled at her feet. "How can I show you my gratitude? Just name it. I will give you anything that is within my power to give."

Raven watched what Cri would do next. It wasn't common that a human would lie at a dhampir's feet saying that they would do whatever they wanted. She watched Cri's face change. The empath had never seen the expression on Cri's or anyone's face. Her face was a mix of amazement, hunger, lust, and fear. Her mouth was slightly opened showing her fangs. Even if Raven didn't recognize the expression on her face, she knew exactly what was running through her mind. "Cri…" Raven warned softly. "Don't…"

Cri continued to stare at the boy. She had not fed in nearly 2 weeks and she could feel her bloodlust rising. The sound of the boy's heart pounding filled her ears. She could nearly see his veins pumping blood just under his creamy colored skin. She could practically smell the boy's complete submission to her power. And the taste…She could already taste the warm, sweet blood quenching her eternal thirst.

Cri winced as she felt her fangs extend in anticipation. She ran her tongue over them her lust growing, overwhelming her senses. She struggled to fight it but knew that this was one fight she wouldn't win. She had waited too long and this innocent boy was going to pay the price. She knelt down in front of the boy. "I just want you to do one thing for me." She said. Her voice was dangerously smooth and seductive. The boy looked up at her fear beginning to fill his eyes. "Don't move." She whispered to him. She leaned over and inhaled deeply. The smell of his fear was driving her wild. She forced his head to one side lowering her fangs to his neck.

Ann Rice would be proud. But here's the thing. How can I possibly describe that so well if I'm not a vampire myself? I guess you will never know…:laughs evilly and disappears: